Derale Transmission Thermostat installation!
Thread Starter
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Super Moderator
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 25,479
Likes: 742
From: Isanti, MN
Here's the DATA!
Drove the X to pick up the boat today, and it was a 46-mile trip to get out there. Ambient temperature was between 52-54° F the entire trip, and as you can see from the lousy graph I was able to cobble together I was on mostly rural highways.
Took about 16 miles to get all the way up to 175°, but once there it stayed there. Whether I was cruising with the torque converter locked or in stop-and-go traffic through a couple of small towns the temp stayed relatively uniform. I did not data log the trip home, but the results were the same towing my 3,500 lb boat back. I was unable to get above 182° despite everything I tried, and this included pulling a 9% and then 7% grade for a total of nearly two miles.
I've attached the crappy graph as well as the raw data. No clue why both my vehicle speed and transmission temp would drop to 0 sporadically, my best guess is that I have ground problems.
Took about 16 miles to get all the way up to 175°, but once there it stayed there. Whether I was cruising with the torque converter locked or in stop-and-go traffic through a couple of small towns the temp stayed relatively uniform. I did not data log the trip home, but the results were the same towing my 3,500 lb boat back. I was unable to get above 182° despite everything I tried, and this included pulling a 9% and then 7% grade for a total of nearly two miles.
I've attached the crappy graph as well as the raw data. No clue why both my vehicle speed and transmission temp would drop to 0 sporadically, my best guess is that I have ground problems.
Thread Starter
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Super Moderator
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 25,479
Likes: 742
From: Isanti, MN
Update
I just wanted to follow up with my experiences so far.
This thing has performed exactly as advertised in my opinion. Whether I'm empty or loaded the temperature always comes up to between 170-185° in all temperatures and stays there.
I recently towed over 15,000 lbs from NW Wisconsin to central New Hampshire and this unit exceeded all my expectations. Of course in this situation the concern was not providing enough flow to the cooler to keep the transmission cool during high stress times, and from what I gather it does a great job with this. On the last day of my trip I was pulling through Vermont and ran into a few hills that had me climbing in 2nd and 1st gear with the torque converter unlocked. Even at speeds as low as 20 MPH the transmission temperature would very slowly creep into the low 200's and peak out around 210, at which point the torque converter would lock and the temperature would fall back to the low 180's in less than 20 seconds. Never once did I get above 215°, and this was in some of the most brutal terrain in the eastern half of the US.
Here was my weight ticket:
And here's my thread on the trip:
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...eaded-out.html
This thing has performed exactly as advertised in my opinion. Whether I'm empty or loaded the temperature always comes up to between 170-185° in all temperatures and stays there.
I recently towed over 15,000 lbs from NW Wisconsin to central New Hampshire and this unit exceeded all my expectations. Of course in this situation the concern was not providing enough flow to the cooler to keep the transmission cool during high stress times, and from what I gather it does a great job with this. On the last day of my trip I was pulling through Vermont and ran into a few hills that had me climbing in 2nd and 1st gear with the torque converter unlocked. Even at speeds as low as 20 MPH the transmission temperature would very slowly creep into the low 200's and peak out around 210, at which point the torque converter would lock and the temperature would fall back to the low 180's in less than 20 seconds. Never once did I get above 215°, and this was in some of the most brutal terrain in the eastern half of the US.
Here was my weight ticket:
And here's my thread on the trip:
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...eaded-out.html
Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 9,399
Likes: 188
From: Norco,CA
So mark what is the range we should run our 4R100 trans at? I to have the 6.0L cooler and I never see over 163 unloaded in the summer at 110 out side? In Wyoming this year it got to about 123 degrees after driving a while. Even here in the fifties it don't want to go pass 120's to easy. Thanks,
Chet
Chet
Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 9,399
Likes: 188
From: Norco,CA
Thank you Mark. Me also, I've seen 180 towing loaded 30 foot toy hauler in 115 degree heat. Most the time in the sumer I see 135 on the road unloaded. I guess these 6.0L coolers do need a thermoustat to control temp then.
Chet
Chet
Mountain Pass
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 230
Likes: 1
From: Lower Mainland BC
6L cooler trans fluid temps
Learn something new all the time here. First time I've seen any reference to a possible problem with upgrading to 6L trans cooler. Like previous poster highest temp I get now loaded in mountains is 150 deg F. 10-20 less unloaded. Mark are there significant negative consequences of trans fluid temps lower then 170 temps without thermostat such as more likely trans failure or more frequent fluid changes or ?
Frmr Ford Trans Engr
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 24,738
Likes: 2,667
From: SE Florida
If the temp is too low the transmission efficiency is lower, which means lower fuel economy. If also can allow moisture to build up in the trans. Moisture in a trans is not good for it.
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stinson 108-1
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 1,015
Likes: 8
From: south jersey
I'll have to do something about mine. It runs 60* above ambient. Thats way cold. Right now I have 1/2 in. foil faced foam in front of the 6.0 cooler covering about 60% of it. It helps a lot, but hardly a good solution. Funny, the coolant and oil temp are still about the same.
Posting Guru
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,427
Likes: 1
From: Bryson City NC
Smokie
Mountain Pass
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 230
Likes: 1
From: Lower Mainland BC
TRans fluid temps FOS
Smokie if you knew me you wouldn't be saying that. I installed the 6L cooler mod as based on info here I thought it was the best way to prolong my trans between recommended fluid changes. Before I spend money and time to remod my mod i want to know how much leeway there is in the design of the trans for temperature factors(ie factor of safety). If its 25% of 175 F then a temp of 131F at the low end is in the range what I am getting so less likely to worry. If its 20% for 140 ditto. Even 15% is 149 F so what I get loaded in the Mtns so again ok. As Mark is the trans engineer guru hoped he could help with this important info for anyone considering doing the 6L mod which is also not inexpensive and takes some work.
Frmr Ford Trans Engr
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 24,738
Likes: 2,667
From: SE Florida
I never considered that. I was asked what the optimum temperature was and it's 170°F. There is no factor of safety on that number. That's just where it operates best. There is no method to control the lower temperature.
Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 18,849
Likes: 179
From: Puget Sound
I've been lurking here because my HD4R100 with a stock cooler won't get up to 170 degrees unless it's over 100 degrees outside. During the winter, my TT needle stays pegged at the bottom (100 degrees) until town traffic on steep grades, then it might reach 130. I remember when I first installed my gauge, I was nervous that it wasn't working right... until I grabbed the transmission coolant line to feel the temp.
This might be one of the reasons my winter economy dips 2 MPG instead of 1 MPG, and my best economy is on hot days. I'll pull the trigger... and I don't even need to lower the Buck$Zooka off the rack... I have a centsy-automatic for things like this.
This might be one of the reasons my winter economy dips 2 MPG instead of 1 MPG, and my best economy is on hot days. I'll pull the trigger... and I don't even need to lower the Buck$Zooka off the rack... I have a centsy-automatic for things like this.